Even after Henry left, the mock battle between Shirley and Jessica continued.
I watched intently, captivated by their duel.
Shirley was an earnest, single-minded woman. Once focused, she wouldn't hesitate to drive her blade forward to achieve her goal, even against an imperial prince like me—just as she had during the Knight Selection.
Jessica was much the same. The moment I ordered her to fight seriously, the air about her transformed completely, radiating a refined, razor-sharp fighting spirit that surpassed any battle-hardened veteran.
The clash between them, sending sparks flying both physically and mentally, was breathtaking.
It was so mesmerizing that I wished I could watch it forever.
And that was why this was my mistake.
In a fight with live steel, even a mock battle could easily cross the line.
Shirley parried Jessica's sword, and with fluid motion, a lightning-fast thrust shot straight toward Jessica's chest—
"Not good!"
On pure instinct, I caught my middle finger against my thumb and flicked it with full force.
The blasted bullet of compressed air flew true, deflecting Shirley's longsword.
Shirley stared in a daze as the weapon was knocked from her grip, spinning through the air before embedding itself in the ground far away.
And Jessica remained collapsed on her backside, in a checkmated position.
"That's enough."
At my words, both of them snapped back to their senses.
I had put them in danger just because I had indulged in my own amusement. I had to apologize.
"I'm sor—"
"That was incredible! As expected of Your Majesty!"
"Just now... a mass of air? You fired a bullet of pure air...?"
Shirley rejoiced innocently, heaping praise upon me.
Though surprised, Jessica blushed and gazed at me with eyes full of utter adoration.
"Mmph."
It was terribly awkward having both of them look at me like that.
"...In any case, that's enough for now. Jessica, go change. We're going to see my father."
"Understood."
Jessica switched gears in an instant.
The aura of a seasoned warrior vanished, replaced in a split second by the poise of a noble lady.
Gauging my intentions, Jessica headed back toward the mansion to change into a dress. Watching her leave, I reflected on what had just happened.
And then...
☆
Taking Jessica, now dressed in a gown, I requested an audience with Father.
A meeting between the Emperor and the retired emperor was usually conducted with solemn ceremony depending on the circumstances, but Father received us in the garden, appearing in casual clothes.
"Father."
"Mm, welcome, Noah. Oho, is that your new consort?"
Even after ceding the throne to me and becoming the retired emperor, Father's information network was clearly as sharp as ever.
The fact that Jessica had become my new consort was completely known to him.
Well, that was fine. It saved me the trouble of explaining.
"Jessica, greet him."
"Yes."
Jessica stepped forward and bowed gracefully to Father.
It was an unassailable bow, performed in the flawless etiquette of a noblewoman—specifically, a low consort.
Naturally, the etiquette differed completely based on rank: Empress, primary consort, side consort, and low consort.
With only a day's notice, Jessica demonstrated the perfect etiquette of a low consort.
"Oho, is she not quite the woman?"
"I think so as well."
"I hear she is also skilled in swordsmanship. Will you not show me?"
"I must ask you to spare us from that, Father."
After what happened with Shirley, I wanted to leave that for another time.
Father looked at me for a moment, but without pressing further, he relented. "I see."
"So, you intend to have that girl accompany the subjugation force?"
As expected, Father was quick on the uptake. I nodded quietly.
"Yes, that is my intention."
"Is it not enough to leave flowers arranged in a vase?"
"People are treasures, Father."
"Hm?"
"And more than half of those untouched treasures remain. Jessica is merely one of the first."
"Is that so? Heh, how like you, Noah."
Father laughed amusedly.
With this, I knew he was at least favorable to my way of thinking.
"Therefore, I would like your cooperation as well, Father."
"What would you have me do?"
"Those who oppose this will likely attempt to appeal directly to you, Father."
"...Mm. I possess ten times the consorts you do, Noah. They will likely think I would be the most affected by your actions."
"Yes."
In reality, it doesn't affect you at all, though—that understanding passed between us through eye contact, so I didn't say it aloud.
Even if I publicly declared that my consorts would be my subordinates and broke tradition, there was practically zero impact on Father.
However, formal procedures could change.
Seizing on that, the opposition would undoubtedly rush to Father.
"Understood. Leave that matter to me."
"Thank you, Father."
I bowed lightly. Beside me, Jessica silently bowed in the same manner.
A consort is one who defers to and honors her husband.
Having fully stepped into the role of a low consort, Jessica played the part flawlessly.
"However... to think that despite all this time since your enthronement, you still have only two... Will you not increase their number all at once, Noah?"
"All at once... you say?"
The atmosphere around Father shifted completely.
He looked serious, but his tone was teasing.
It was almost identical to an elderly relative asking, "Aren't you married yet?"
"A man should always carry the scent of women about him."
"Haah..."
"The blood spray of the battlefield and the woman of the bedchamber—these two scents are indispensable to a man, Noah. Take about a hundred consorts; that will push you to an even higher stage."
"Then I would end up having more than you, Father."
"That is fine. Considering your caliber, Noah, that is the bare minimum."
He evaluated me extraordinarily highly.
Even without such praise, however—people are treasures.
"If I find them, I shall do so, Father. For I desire quality, not quantity."
"Hm, that is well too."
The conversation ended there. Taking Jessica with me, I took my leave and departed from the palace.
After leaving the palace, Jessica spoke to me quietly.
"Your Majesty."
"Hm, what is it?"
"Since I am heading out on the subjugation, should I scout for women among the enemy, captives, or locals?"
"Regarding what Father said?"
"Yes."
Jessica was staring at me with a completely straight face.
It wasn't a joke, nor did she look like she was testing me.
She was asking purely whether she should do it, just as her words implied.
And her expression showed that, should I give the order, she was entirely serious.
"There's no need for—ah, no."
I swallowed the words I was about to say and corrected myself.
"You heard my conversation with Father, right? Quality over quantity. Bring back only women who meet your standards and whom you deem worthy."
"—Yes!"
Correctly taking my words as a sign of trust, Jessica nodded firmly.
☆
Alone in the study of the detached palace, I summoned Apophis.
Taking a deep breath, I gave the order.
"Do it."
I felt a slight hesitation from Apophis, but because it was my command, it timidly obeyed.
"—Guh!"
The next moment, poison coursed through my body.
It was Apophis's venom.
That deadly toxin circulated in an instant—
"Erase it."
—and vanished alongside my command.
"...Gah!"
I threw up what welled up from the pit of my stomach.
It was purple blood.
Poisoned blood, proof of having been afflicted by the toxin.
After vomiting most of it out...
"One more time, Apophis."
This time there was less hesitation. Following my orders once again, it circulated the poison through my body.
"Erase it."
And then, it erased it again.
"...I, see."
Having experienced the poison and the exact moment it vanished twice within my own body, the sensation was almost exactly as I had predicted.
When Apophis eliminated its own poison, it didn't reduce it to absolute nothingness; rather, it neutralized it with an opposing force.
That opposing force was precisely what I wanted right now.
Knowing it was there—a third time.
To feel even more clearly that which I now knew existed.
"Do it, Apophis—erase it!"
Once more, I took the poison into my body.
Again, I vomited poisoned blood.
Purple blood spread across the floor.
Thanks to that, I found what I wanted; it became clear.
Reaching out my hand, I focused all my senses onto my extended index finger.
Before long, a glittering, transparent droplet oozed from my fingertip—
☆
Ministry of Military Affairs, Imperial Prince Minister's Office.
When I entered without knocking, Henry momentarily challenged me with a "Who goes there?!" but the moment he saw my face, he hastily rose from his chair.
"Forgive me, I did not realize it was Your Majesty."
With that, he knelt on the spot.
"It is fine. I told them there was no need to announce me. You may ease yourself as well, Jessica."
Jessica, who had been speaking with Henry, had knelt in the same way, so I had both of them stand.
"So... what brings Your Majesty here?"
"Ah, I have something to discuss with Jessica. I figured it would be easier for you to assign her duties in the subjugation if you saw it too, Henry."
Saying that, I pulled a small vial from my breast pocket.
A pale blue liquid shimmered inside.
"I intend to have Jessica carry this. It's still a prototype, but I'll have a sufficient quantity prepared by the deadline."
"What might that be?"
"Watch."
First, I sliced my own wrist with the edge of my hand.
I cut quite deeply, and blood began gushing out profusely.
Both Henry and Jessica, who had braced themselves for me to do something, were shocked.
"Your Majesty!"
"W-What are you—"
"Just watch."
Restraining the two of them, I sprinkled the liquid from the small vial onto the wound on my wrist.
Instantly, the deep cut closed right up.
"Wha—?!"
"I made this. Jessica, take this with you."
"C-Could that be... the legendary potion?"
Henry said in sheer astonishment.
"Potion? What's that?"
"Your Majesty surely knows that in the ancient civilization that once boasted great prosperity, there existed something called 'recovery magic.'"
"Yeah."
He was referring to that completely lost ancient magic.
"Even with recovery magic, not everyone could wield it. Therefore, the magic tool known as a 'potion' was created, possessing effects equivalent to recovery magic."
"I see. That makes sense."
"Does it truly heal wounds?"
"If it's just a laceration. For severe injuries like severed flesh or limbs, it only closes the wound in an instant, though."
"It is the very image of the legendary potion... Your Majesty made this?"
"Yeah, I created it."
"Incredible... As expected of Your Majesty."
Henry looked more astonished than I had ever seen him.
Leaving Henry aside, I turned to Jessica.
I handed her the potion.
Having seen her and Shirley almost get injured during the mock battle, I had created this potion to prevent any such tragedy.
"Jessica."
"Y-Yes."
"You are also my consort. Keep your body unblemished; if you are injured, use it immediately."
"—! Yes!"
Overwhelmed with emotion, Jessica knelt on the spot.
Meanwhile, looking at the potion, Henry wore a grave expression.
"Incredible... If we had more of this... it would change the very nature of warfare..."